Want a recipe for success? Try mixing
good food, service with consistency

May 11, 2006

By GREG DEAL
Index-Journal managing editor

There were times when Rick Sheppard wanted to give up.
But the owner of Rick’s Uptown Cafeteria in Greenwood said his mother, Addrena, was always there to boost his spirits.
“She said, ‘The Lord will make a way for you,’” Sheppard recalls.
And those words stuck — so much so that his business reflects them and the motto of never giving up.
Rick’s Uptown Cafeteria won the Palmetto Workforce Partnership Regional Award in the “small businesses from 0-50 employees” category.
The business was nominated by the One-Stop Workforce Center in Greenwood.
Sandra Johnson, Workforce Development administrator with the Upper Savannah Council of Governments, said Sheppard has long “supported the One-Stop system by hiring individuals who are looking for work.”
“He has long been a site for summer youth workers to get work experience,” Johnson said. “He is an example of a small business that has grown over the years in Greenwood County.
“From our perspective, we know a lot of jobs created locally are from smaller businesses. We are proud that a business like Rick’s is located in the downtown area and continues to expand its operations.”
The award honors businesses for their “contribution to the South Carolina workforce system” and for “embracing the dynamics of global change ... educating South Carolina’s workforce.”
And the key to that, Sheppard said, is hiring good employees and keeping them. That’s especially important in the food industry, where consistency in service and quality are crucial, Sheppard said.
That’s why two-thirds of Sheppard’s employees have been with him for the nine years he’s been at his Pressley Street location. Before that, the cafeteria was on Main Street.
“We have such great communications here,” Sheppard said. “When we hire someone, it’s usually long-term.”
Sheppard says that, as a boss, he tries to be fair, honest and truthful to his employees. He said he’s open to sitting down to talk with them about work or their personal lives.
But the recipe for Sheppard’s success takes a mix of good food, great service and consistency.
And that consistency is something Sheppard is proud of.
“Customers want to come in and know what they are going to get,” he said.
And it helps to have longtime employees such as Shirley Wilson and cook Geneva Butler.
Butler worked at a textile mill for 30 years until it closed. At the time, Rick’s Uptown had just moved to its Pressley Street location.
It wasn’t a hard move for Butler. After all, she had nine brothers and seven sisters and was used to cooking for them.
“There’s a good work atmosphere here,” said Butler, whose favorite dish to cook is macaroni and cheese. “You don’t mind getting up and coming to work.”
Butler said she memorizes all ingredients and cooking preparation techniques in order to keep the consistency her boss demands.
Sheppard learned the importance of consistency while working as a McDonald’s manager for 17 years. When he decided to start his own business, he said he looked around Greenwood and realized there were very few places serving country-style meals.
“Customers want something nourishing,” said Sheppard, whose specialty for lunch is a choice of meat, three vegetables and a drink.
Wilson said “good food, friendly employees and a nice atmosphere” make Rick’s special.
She says she gets a chance to know the customers. And she’s not afraid to admit that Sheppard rewards her for her efforts.
“I make good money,” she said.
Sheppard said the award is a “tremendous honor.”
“I feel like I can hold up this thing (the award) through hard work and dedication, and with the support of my wife (Clara Cason Sheppard), mother, family, employees and friends.”
While Sheppard won’t hesitate to say he thinks his food is the best in town, he admits it takes more than a plate of goodness to keep people coming back.
“When customers come in, they get a smiling face,” Sheppard said. “We make them feel welcome.”
Many times servers have a good idea what a person wants when he walks in the door.
It’s not unusual to see Rick join in during busy times and serve up plates, and he’s quick to nod and acknowledge his customers and ask how they are doing.
With employees who stay for a long time and customers who return on a regular basis, Sheppard might have met his goal of making his customers “feel like they are at home.”
Or, for some people, maybe even better than home.

Season over for Vikes

Walhalla beats 2nd-seeded Emerald in Upper State final

May 11, 2006

By RON COX
Special to The Index-Journal

The Emerald High School boys soccer team’s hopes of a third straight trip Columbia were dashed by a Razorbacks squad looking to continue its upset-minded ways.
Four days after knocking off top-seeded Batesburg-Leesville, No. 4 Walhalla ended the run for the second-ranked Vikings, 1-0, Wednesday night at Frank Hill Stadium in the Class AA Upper State final.
“They just kept fighting and fighting and they pulled it together when it really mattered,” Razorback coach Chris Preisig said.
“They knew they were going to have to come out hard for 80 minutes. They’ve waited for this for so long.
“We’re peaking at the right time.”
The Razorbacks move on to the state title match Saturday for the first time in the program’s history. Walhalla will face the Bishop England-Waccamaw winner.
The Razorbacks applied an offensive pressure throughout most of the first half, keeping the ball on the Emerald defensive half for long periods of time. Walhalla’s offensive flurry posted seven shots on goal in the 40-minute half.
“We just came out flat. We have nobody to blame here but ourselves,” Emerald coach Brad Nickles said. “We talked about it. We knew they were going to come out shot out of a cannon in the first half. We just wanted to absorb it and move on, but we never recovered.
“We played 40 maybe 42 good minutes instead of the 80 and that’s why they’re going to Columbia and we’re not,” Nickles added.
Wahalla’s pressure eventually led to the game’s only goal.
In the 34th minute, Walhalla’s Victor Rojas blasted a left-footed shot from 17 yards out, but Emerald keeper Josh Dean dove to make one of his seven saves. However, the rebound went straight to the Razorbacks’ Tyler Phillips, whose shot was enough to bounce off a diving Dean’s hand into the net for the 1-0 lead.
“We figured the more we’d keep it on their side, the more we’d get shots off and that something would go in,” Preisig said. “Rebounds are something we’ve been working on for a long time, having them frame the goal, push in for the shot and get in position for rebounds.”
The Vikings came out in the second half with more aggression, but were unable to find an equalizer.
It’s been an uphill climb for the Vikings this season. After losing 14 players from last year’s repeat Upper State championship squad, the Vikings opened the 2006 season with five straight losses, including two Region III-AA matches, and found themselves at 3-7 with the bulk of region games still to play.
Emerald closed out the season with eight straight wins before Wednesday’s loss to the Razorbacks, with the last six being shutouts. The Vikings lose fives seniors, including starters Chris Robinson, Joe Garcia and Ernesto Hernandez.
“These guys have nothing to be ashamed of though,” Nickles said. “We started out at one point at 3-7 and finished at 11-8. We’ve been right in the mix since then. This year has been a better progression than any that I’ve been involved with, and I’m proud of them for that.
“They just picked the wrong night to stay in bed. They just missed their wake-up call.”

Opinion

Why is a military leader wrong for the CIA now?

May 11, 2006

One of the carved-in-stone rules about the governance of this nation is that the military is and has to be subservient to civilian authority. There hasn’t been a question about that for a half century ..... until now.
To help put the current flap over the appointment of Air Force General Michael Hayden as chief of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in perspective, go back to the time when President Harry Truman was in the White House.
Many South Carolinians will remember. Many were there, in fact. The Korean War was in progress and General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was in command of all United Nations troops. He resisted directives from Commander-in-Chief Truman and, despite MacArthur’s public popularity, Truman fired him.

THAT, OF COURSE, REAFFIRMED civilian authority over the military.
Now, fast-forward to today. President Bush is catching a lot of heat on Capitol Hill for naming Hayden to the CIA post. Criticism is coming from both sides of the aisle.
It’s understandable why Democrats are making waves. At this particular time they are doing anything and everything they can to destroy Mr. Bush. That’s destroy, not oppose him. They are, it’s obvious, working hard to set the stage for impeachment anytime they feel the time is right. It’s almost as if some of those in Washington have a pathological hatred of the president. It even appears some of them are willing to pay any price to bring Mr. Bush down, and what’s good or bad for the American people seems to be no consideration.

WHAT’S HARD TO UNDERSTAND, though, are those Capitol Hill Republicans who are beating the drums against General Hayden. With friends like that, Bush could justifiably ask why he needs enemies.
Is it politics? That is the logical question to ask. History says yes. Consider: There have been 19 heads of the CIA, including the president’s father. Of that number, six have been military men. They have all served admirably and well, under Democratic and Republican presidents. There have been no attempts to overthrow the government. Had there been, they would have failed. Why the fuss now?
If it were a real problem, why not change the law? As it is, the law allows heads of the CIA to be civilian, ex-military or even active military people. So. What’s the weepin’ and wailin’ all about?
Who stands to gain in any Bush-battering? Answer that and everything becomes pretty clear.

Obituaries

Alene Boiter

ABBEVILLE — Alene Rambo Boiter, 68, of 600 Pecan Road, wife of Harold Boiter, died Wednesday, May 10, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home.

Ira Thomas Dean

SALUDA — Ira Thomas Dean, 71, of 418 Henley Road, husband of Marcella Coates Dean, died Tuesday, May 9, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Born in Greenwood County, he was a son of Rose Lee Dean Hill. He was a member of Old Mount Zion Baptist Church and a retired maintenance worker of Lennox and Axilbond.
Survivors include his wife of the home; his mother of Philadelphia; two sons, Wallace Simmons of Providence, R.I., and Ira Dean Jr. of Philadelphia; a daughter, Wendy Andrews of Philadelphia; two brothers, Wardell Hill and Willie Hill, both of Philadelphia; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
Graveside services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Lockhart Baptist Church Cemetery, conducted by Brothers John Tillman and Willie Herring.
Pallbearers and flower bearers are family and friends of the family.
The family is at the home and at the home of an aunt, Mrs. Isaiah (Voneva) Kinard, 202 Dixon Drive, Hodges.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home is in charge.

Ann Johnson

ABBEVILLE, SC — Ann Johnson, 85, formerly of 114 Woodlawn St, widow of Lloyd Johnson, died Wednesday, May 10, 2006 at Abbeville Nursing Home.
Born in White County, Georgia, she was the daughter of John Wesley and Maggie Lackey Winkler. Mrs. Johnson retired from Greenwood Mills and was “Abbeville’s Avon Lady” for many years. She attended the Abbeville Church of God.
She was preceded in death by five siblings, John H. Winkler, F.W. Winkler, Nancy Mobley, Mary Medlin, and Josie Winkler.
Surviving are a son, Ronnie Carver, and a daughter, Barbara McCurry, both of Abbeville; four grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 10:00AM until 11:00AM on Saturday, May 13, 2006 at Harris Funeral Home. Graveside service will follow at 11:30AM in Melrose Cemetery.
The family is at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Barbara McCurry, 334 Airport Road, Abbeville.
Online condolences may be sent to the Johnson family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, of Abbeville is assisting the Johnson family.
PAID OBITUARY

Henry Thayer, Jr.

GREENWOOD — Henry Kibby Thayer, Jr., resident of 1110 Marshall Road, widower of Caroline Lomax Thayer, died May 9, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood, May 27, 1916, he was a son of the late Henry K. Thayer, Sr. and Parnell Abney Thayer. He was a 1933 graduate of Greenwood High School and a 1937 graduate of The Citadel. During World War II, Mr. Thayer served in the US Army where he obtained the Rank of Major. He was the former President and Treasurer of Thayer’s Inc. of Greenwood.
Mr. Thayer was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection where he served as Acolyte, Treasurer, Vestryman and Junior and Senior Warden. He was also a member of the Greenwood Rotary Club where he obtained perfect attendance for 59 years and served as Sergeant-at-Arms, Secretary, Vice President and President of the club. He was a former member of the Greenwood Country Club, American Legion Post #20, Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, Greenwood Merchants Association and a former Director of the South Carolina Merchants Association.
Surviving are a daughter, Nancy and husband, Larkin Jennings, III of Greenville; two grandsons, Larkin H. Jennings and wife, Debbie of Charlotte, NC and H. Thayer Jennings of Charleston; two great-grand-children, Christopher and Courtney Jennings.
Funeral services will be conducted at 12 Noon Friday at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection with Rev. Peter W. Hawes and Rev. Carol Peppers-Wray officiating.
Private family burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Honorary escort will be members of the Greenwood Rotary Club.
The family will receive friends at the Bishop’s Hall of the church from 11 to 12 Friday.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, 700 South Main Street, Greenwood, SC 29646, Wesley Commons, 1110 Marshall Road, Green-wood, SC 29646 or to The Citadel, c/o The Citadel Foun-dation, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.blythfuneralhome.com
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Thayer family.
PAID OBITUARY